Posted by Nat on January 06, 2001 at 12:20:31:
In Reply to: Buck worries posted by cibele on January 06, 2001 at 07:12:05:
Chicken feed is very bad for bucks and wethers especially, because the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio is very unsuited for goats.
Goats are usually set at a CA:P ratio of 2:1 but this will vary if you feed alfalfa, ect. Chicken feed is overabundant in Calcium (for shell quality of the eggs and phosphours).
Keep an eye on your buck, and try not to let him keep getting into the feed. A diet that has the improper CA:P ratio will lead to the development of Urinary Calci, and lead to blockage of the urinary tract. If he looks like he is straining when urinating, these are the symptoms of this problem.
Being off feed after an incident like this will happen, like others said - the rumen could be upset due to the overload, ect. If he stays off feed then you may want to call a vet for some advice but he should be ok in a day or so. My wethers got loose and into the pig grain when they were kids (VERY BAD due to the high level of copper in the feed - I know that sheep are more sensitive, but pigs are so deficient that almost all nutirents, and vitamins values are higher then most grains). They got a little bloated, and then got over it in a few days when the rumen got cycled again.
Others may have some better advice. Just thought that I'd throw out something that I learned in my Animal Nutrition Class at college. -Nat
Nat's little Bit Farm